Import player Pita Bole Tonga’s outstanding performance helped Hekari United FC to a crushing victory over Gigira Laitepo Morobe FC and kept its lead in the National Soccer League (NSL) competition.
Hekari nailed home team Gigira Laitepo Morobe FC 3-0 to open a three points gap on the NSL points table with two goals from Tonga and the other from Jack Kema in front of a packed crowd at the Sir Ignatius Kilage double header clash on Saturday.
In the other match, CMSS Tigers from Port Moresby draw 1-1 with home team Niugini Builders Tukoko University.
The draw makes it two draws in a row for Tigers who seem to have fallen in form in the past month.
However, the management of Hekari United attributed the win to club owner, and late Sir Kapi Natto, who passed away a fortnight ago.
Into the opening minutes of the game, Morobe FC showed power and enthusiasm with its defence and ball control.
Two goal attempts by Morobe FC’s wing Hans Mambare and upfront Eliud Fugere in the first 20 minutes of the opening half boosted the home boys to have the ball in the Hekari United FC’s territory.
Hekari United returned within the next 25 minutes with all they had in stock when utility Jack Kema broke the ice with the first goal from a corner kick by Solomon Islands import Benjamin Mela.
Minutes after the first goal, the second goal was put into the net by Bole Tonga from a free kick attempt by Mela which bounced back from a Morobe FC player.
Hekari United gained control of the field with marvellous performances in their ball control, defence and goal attempts, giving no opportunity for the home boys to regroup.
In the last minutes of the first half, Tonga again capitalised from another corner kick by Mela to head the ball into the goal.
Leading 3-0 in the first half, Hekari had nothing to lose in the second stanza whenthey played relaxed football to maintain the lead all through the 45 minutes with classic performances from Mela, Kema, Bole Tonga, Tuimasi Manula, Abraham Enoch and goal keeper, Gure Gabina.
Morobe FC’s several attempts to level the score board through Fugera, Mambare, Pascal Wojem and Armstrong Peka failed to produce anything.
The fired up Hekari United left no stone unturned to keep Morobe FC at bay, while manning their territory with respectable ball control.
Morobe FC coach Max Foster said his boys played well but the goals went down from some “silly mistakes’’ which could have been avoided.
Hekari United coach Tommy Mana and team manager Vonnie Kapi Natto said every NSL game was taken as a ‘grand final game’ by the team and the win was another opportunity to maintain their lead.
Both admitted that Morobe FC was not easy to beat but it was Hekari United FC that gained the upper hand to set the platform for the win.
By FRANK RAI and ALFRED KANINIBA (Post Courier PNG)
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